The Early Arabic Historical Tradition: A Source-Critical Study

occasional notes in pencil. xi, 248 pages ; 25 cm. Contents: I. The Salient Themes of Early Historical Tradition. Primary Themes. Ridda. Futuh. Fitna. Administration. Sirat al-khulafa. Ansab. Iran. Secondary Themes. Gharat. Dating According to the Hijra. Annalistic Style. Arrangement According to Caliphates. Law and Administration. Cities. Court and Central Government. Casual Links II. Literary Forms. Documents. Letters. Speechees. Lists. Awa'il III. Topoi. Topoi Connected with Personal Names. Order of Battle (wa-'ala). Persons Who Kill or Capture Well-Known Enemies. Messages of Victory Sent to the Caliph. Arranging the Succession of Command. Appointing Deputies. Reinforcements. Topoi Emphasizing Feats of Arms. The Significant or Decisive Battle. War Elephants. Crossing Over. Chains. Topoi Which Serve to Glorify Former Times. "To begin with ." The Caliphs and Their Advisors. Mountains at the Backs of the Muslim Armies. The Takbar as the Signal to Attack. The Seeking of Martyrdom. The Summons to Islam. Topoi with no Recognizable Coherent Tendency. Conquest of Cities. Single Combat. The Thousandman. Women Clad as Warriors. Analogous Narrative Motifs IV. Schemata. Trasitional Formulae. Pseudo-Causes. Etiologies. Systemization. Undifferentiated Reports.…